Second Chance Bill Slated for Public Hearing in Assembly Corrections

Oct. 1, 2013 – Members of the public will have an opportunity to voice their opinions on the Second Chance Bill – a State Bar of Wisconsin-backed initiative that would return first-time, nonviolent 17-year-old offenders to juvenile court jurisdiction – during a public hearing this week.

The Assembly Committee on Corrections, which is chaired by the bill’s co-author Rep. Garey Bies (R-Sister Bay) will take up the bill on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2013, at 10:30 a.m. in State Capitol Room 412 East.

The newly introduced Assembly Bill 387/Senate Bill 308 would reverse portions of current law – enacted in 1996 – which requires that any 17-year-old who is alleged to have committed a crime be treated as an adult.

Katie Stenz is the public affairs coordinator with the State Bar of Wisconsin. She can be reached at org kstenz wisbar wisbar kstenz org, or by phone at (608) 250-6145.

Over the past few weeks, the Second Chance Bill has garnered a great deal of bipartisan support, with 54 co-sponsors in the Legislature – more than any other bill this session – as well as a growing list of statewide individuals and groups.

Supporters include the conservative Right on Crime, a project of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families, the State Public Defender, the Wisconsin Council of Churches, Disability Rights Wisconsin, WISDOM, the Wisconsin Catholic Conference, the Wisconsin Association of Family and Children’s Agencies, Wisconsin Family Ties, A Helping Heart, and the National Association of Social Workers—WI Chapter.

About the Bill

For more information about this initiative, please review the following items: